Residence elevator



4 Sheets-SheeffJ l INVENTOR dd 7. @om

ATTORNEYS y June 4, 1935.

June 4, 1935. A. T. BROWN 004,060

RESIDENCE ELEVATOR Filed May 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WM Wand- ATTORNEYS June 4, 1935. A. T. BROWN RESIDENCE ELEVATOR Filed May 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Waff/63mm 5 WMZ/PWM ATTO RN EYS June 4,1935. A T. BROWN Y 2,004,060

RESIDENCE ELEVATOR Filed May 24, Y1934 4 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented June 4, 1935 Y PATENT-OFFICE RESIDENCE ELEVATOR Alfred T. Brown, cincinnati, chin,` assignnr in The Warner Elevator Mfg'. Company,V Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 24, 1934, Serial No. 727,319

5 Claims. (Cl. 187-24) This invention relates to electric motor driven elevators particularly adaptable for private residencesor homes and primarily for a one floor rise of lift, with no overhead cab sustaining and elevating machinery, `easily installed in anerected building at a moderate cost, requiring only a minimum floorspace to be `taken from the rooms or hallways for the hatch-way or shaft,

usually available from ya corner of a room, and

inexpensive building alterations, as the cutting of an opening through the second floor ilooring andinserting cross header -for the joists cut; the boring of a hole through the rst floor iiooring to Vtraverse an elevating screw therethrough and theebuilding of a'light hatch-way enclosure for the two floors served.

An object ofthe invention is to provide an i electric motor driven elevator particularly for private residences, having the lifting power-to raise and lower the elevator platform and all the weight thereof vsupported from below the lower floor served by the elevator to avoid placing any additional load by the installation'upon the upper floor joints of the building orthe provision of load sustainingframing or'shoring as would be necessitated for marking an elevator installation in an erected building having 'the cab sus# pended from and elevated by overhead machinery. i

Another object of the invention is to provide an elevator primarily for a one floor risehavlng a load carrying platform centrally mountedupon an elevating screw, the screw operated' by a revolving nut transmittingly` connected by a'belt drive to an electric motor.` Y

Another object of the invention is-to provide an elevator with an elevating screw forrpropeiling thecab, the screwVv connected centrally to the underside of the platform of the cab and extends downwardly `therefrom 'engaging' with aV revolving self-aligned ball bearing journalled nut supported upon a tubular column into which the screw recedes in its descending traverse, the "column carrying all the load oi theelevator and serving as areservoir forfholding a supply of oil 'for lubricating the screw.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an elevator with -an elevating Vscrew for propelling the elevator cab, the screw driven by `a revolving nut in belt transmission with an electric motor.

Another object of the inventionV is to provide an 'elevator with an elevating screw for propelling the elevator cab, 'the' screw driven by a revolving nut, lthe nut having a'drum concentrictherewith providing a groovedpulley fora plurality of belts to transmittingly connect the same `with an electricmotor'and an annular braking surface for applying a brake pressure to the nut, the brake controlled with the control of the motor. y Various `other features and advantages ofr the invention-will be vmore fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure l is a vertical section of the elevator vwith the cabin its uppermost limit of travel. Figure 2 is a section on line `2 2, Figure' l. Figure 3 is a cross section on line 3 3, Figure `l. Figure 4 is a cross section of the car platform taken on line 4 4, Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross section similar to AFigure 4 taken on `line Eef; Figure 3 at right angles to Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the motorv driven transmssiorrfor the elevator cabielevation screwY mounted upon the ceiling below the lowermost floor served by the elevator `and illustrating a section of the cab platform atitslower limit and resting uponbuier springs. C y vFigure 7 isa section onV line Ie-7, Figure 6.

Figure` 8 is atop 'planview `of the transmission forthe elevating screw. v t

Figure 9 is asection on line\9-9, Figure 8. Figure l0is aplan'view with. parts in section ofthe brake'mechanism for the revolving nut.

Figure `ll is a sectional view ofr safety electric switch devices for :preventing the opening of a hatch doorunless the cabis stationed at the door opening and Ato .preventfcar startingwhenthe hatch'door is open. i

Figure 12 is a section on linegl2-s-l2`, Figurell. Figure 13 vis a section on line i3-'43; Figure 9. Figure 14 is a circuit controlling diagramior `the elevator driving motor.

Referring to the'drawings; Figuresl and 2'illustrate an elevator installation'for a privateridence preferably for `a one floorrise service. I indicates` the elevator cab ltraveling upon guides to support the saine. The cab as'is customary has its opposite sides, centrallyland `at thetop andbottomtliereof, equipped withshoes 2; slidg ably engaging vertical stationaryguideA rails 3, l3,

rigidly xed to the building framing or walls `forming the hatchway Aor closure within which the elevator cab travels. .l o

The construction xofotl'ie cab. is. optional, preferably Iof light weight framing covered' with plywood panels, artistically Vfinished and decorated, withfva `substantial platform which sustains all the .loa-d. LA11 driving mechanism is located in a lower floor. orbasementgor below rthe lowermost alterations required to the uppermost or second oor ceiling, as all the elevating mechanism is below the cab platform.

The platform 4 is supported upon and raised and lowered by a heavy externally threaded steel column or screw shaft 5, preferably of drawn steel tubing, located under the center of the platform to which its upper end is connected.` The upper end of the screw column is provided with a stud engaged into the tubular end of the screw column.V The stud in turn is socketed into a hub l extendingkcentrally for the lower side of the platform framing. The stud is loose in platform socket and in column and crosspinned, forming a universal joint which saves the car from any vibrations of the screw and allows the car to move as a unit on its guides without restraint from the screw.

The lower end of the screw column 5 extends below the flooring of the lowerrnost iioor served by the elevator and axially into a steel tube or cylinder 8, having a capped lower end resting upon a footing at or below the cellar door. The cylinder 8 carries all the load of the elevator and is partially filled with oil to insure lubrication of the screw column.

The screw column 5 is elevated or lowered by a revoluble self-aligning ball bearing journalled nut 9 and as shown in Figure 9 integrally constitutes a screw-threaded hub of a driving pulley I [l for rotating the nut. The angle of the thread of the column and nut is such that the weight of a loaded car on the column will not cause it to coast or descend while the nut is at rest Yand un. braked. The periphery of the nut 9 is counterturned to concentrically receive and seat a bearing collar -II of a sensitively self-aligning ball thrust bearing I2 seated and sustained within a journal I3 mounted upon the upper end of the cylinder 8 and also Xed to a laterally extended arm of a bracket I4. The outerbearing collar of the 'thrust bearing I2 is recessed and secured against displacement within the journal i3 and has an arc form of ball race way in its inner periphery providinga iioating journal for the nut, which allows the nut and screw to move as a unit upon anysway or vibration of the screw. This prevents any binding influence between the threads of the screw and nut whichwould result in rapid wearof the-threads and cause'added friction, interfering with a smooth rotation of the nut'.Y The bracket I4, as shown in Figure 6, is dependingly Xed or attached to the ceiling or joist framing of the building.

` ,The nut 9 and its rim or pulley II) is rotated or driven by an electric motor I5 through the medium of a plurality of. V belts I5, I6 engaged .with a grooved pulley Il xed onlthe motor shaft and with the pulley or nut rim I0, which has its periphery correspondingly annularly grooved to appropriately engagerwith the belts. The motor is adjustably mounted upon the bracket I 4 and may be of single phase type operated from a lighting circuit. Y

' As shown in Figures 6 and 13 the electric motor I5 is mounted upon the bracket i4 by bolts IS, each engaged through metal-clad elastic washers I9", I9 at relative opposite ends of an elastic bushing Ida encased within a hub or sleeve of the bracket Ill providing a sound insulating mounting for the motor. The motor operates under circuit controlled reversing directions correspondingly imparting rotative motion to the nut for either raising or lowering the screw column and cab connecting therewith.

The nut rim or pulley I0 is of reduced weight to be inert toward continued rotation after the motive power has been cut off, although to insure against overrun and for accurate stopping it is frictionally arrested simultaneously with the stopping control of the motor by a magnetically controlled brake engaging the nut rim or pulley It. The magnet brake may be of any type of construction and as shown in Figure l0 comprises a magnet 2B mounted upon the bracket I4 operating an armature lever 2l pivoted upon the metallic body Vof the magnet which is xed to the bracket Id. The armature lever is pivotally connected to one end of the connecting rod 22 and the opposite end oisaid connecting rod is pivotally connected to a brake beam 23, pivotally mounted upon the bracket I4 and carries a shoe 24 adapted to be 'compressively engaged against the periphery of the nut rirn or pulley l0.

The brake beam 23 is'spring-urged to applyl the shoe frictionally againstv the pulleyv I9 instantly when the magnet is deenergized, following a gen-` eral practicel in elevators and the brake magnet under circuit 'control with the driving motor so that the brakeV is applied when the motor is cuil oii and releasedwith'motor starting. A spring 25 is engaged about the connecting rod 22 having one end bearing againstan edge of the brake beam 23 and the opposite end ofthe'spring Vis housed within a capped sleeve 23 vextending lat` erally from the bracket I4, `,with the connecting rodZiZ traversing Vthe cap of the sleeve. y

A plural number of platform cushioning buffer springs 2l are suitably seated upon -the ooring of the lower floor served by the elevator,

The elevator motor circuit control Vis preferably of push button operated type, as by control buttons in the cab for either up, down or stopping control and byY a call button at each floor. The control system may'however be of such type as to meet various requirements and specifically forms no part of the present invention. VA simple arrangement suiiicient to meet the general demands for a residence elevator maybe briefly described and easily comprehended from the diagram illustrated in Figure 14, in which 28, 28 respectively indicate upper and lower door call button switches for making a control circuit connection with the motor controlling direction and starting switches, not shown, to bring the elevator from one door to theother at which the user is waiting to enter. 25, 30, 3l represent button control switches in the cab for up and down direction starting and stopping control. 32 is an up hatch limit switch actuated by a cam block on the cab and 33 a similar down hatch limit switch likewise operated by the cab. The hatch and cab doors are provided with suitable switches 34, necessitating door closing before the elevator can be started. l v A hatch door switch of very ecient design is herein disclosed and illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 also serving for locking the door closed when the cab is not stationed thereat.

The hatch door switch is actuated orY controlled by the cab and comprises a casing 35 preferably secured to the top cross rail of the Vdoor jamb'. The casing interiorly supports a pair oi`- adjacently disposed contact fingers 36vcarried by an insulation mounting fixed to the casing. The contact ngers are spring pressed and engage with a contact plate 31 when the door is closed to complete and maintain a control circuit. The 'contact plate is carried by anrinsulation mounting 38 attached upon a rigid latch bar 39 xed upon the inner side of a door 4i). The lower edge of the latch bar` 3g is toothed to interlock with a correspondingly toothed latch arm HY xed upon a rock shaft 412 journalled in the walls of the casing 35. A crank arm 43 is iixed upon an outer end of the rock shaft. The free end of the crank arm 43 journals a roller 44 engaged by a cam block 45 mounted upon the top of the elevator cab. The

' cam block 45 during the travel of the 'cab when it reaches to engagethe roller of the crankvarm depresses the crank arm `releasing the latch arm from the latch bar on the door, unlocks the door and maintains the same unlocked so long `as the cab is stationed at such door. As soon as the cab departs the crank lever is released and the door automatically locked when closed, and the door must be closed to complete or maintain a motor operating control.

The elevating mechanism can also be utilized for dumbwaiter lifts automatically controlled by push buttons at each landing and arranged so that the car can be called to or sent from either floor to the other i'loor.

The elevating mechanism is very simple in construction and compactly arranged and presents no complications in installing. There are no ropes, chains or cablesuspended from overhead y sheaves, which would have to` be accessible for lubricating. The major parts requiring lubrication are self-lubricated from a supply which need only be replenished after long periods oi elevatoi` service. The plural V belt transmittingconnection between the motor and a large diameter pulley rimmed nut furnishes a very simple, powerful and silent transmission and in case of electric power failure the pulley can be easily rotated by hand to raise or lower the carto the nearest landing. The entire structure lends itself to be sold and installed at a moderate Vcost and is not limited to large and expensive residences.

Having described my invention, I claim.-

l. In an elevator, a cab, an elevating screw for propelling the cab connected to the lower side of the platform of the cab, a revolving self-aligning ball bearing journalled nut for raising and lowering said screw and cab, and transmission means for revolving said nut in reverse directions.

2. In an elevator, a cab, an elevating screw for propelling the cab connected to the lower side of the platform of the cab, and a revolving selfaligning ball bearing journalled nut for raising and lowering said screw and cab, the nut having the drum unitarily concentric therewith for a belt transmission and braking mechanism cooperating with the rim of the drum for withholding rotation upon cessation of the nut transmission.

3. In an elevator, a cab, an elevating screw for propelling the cab connected to the lowerside of the platform of the cab, a revolving self-aligning ball bearing journalled nut for raising and lowering said screw and cab, the nut having a drum unitarily concentric therewith for driving and Vbraking said nut, an electric motor in belt driving connection with said drum, and a magnet brake having a shoe for engagement with said drum, controlled with the control of motor to apply the brake with the cutting off of the motive power and vice versa.

l 4. In an elevator, a cab, a vertically disposed elevating screw for propelling the 'cab having its upper end connected to the cab at the under side of the platform thereof, a vertically disposed tubular column stationed to have its upper end terminating below the lower floor served by the cab, the screw normally coaxial with the column to recede therein, a journal mounted on the top of the column, a revolvable nut in threaded engagement with said screw and floatingly sustained within said journal, adapting the nut and screw to move as a unit by any vibratory motion of the screw, the nut having a drum concentric therewith providing a belt transmission element for nut rotation and a peripheral braking surface for cooperating with a brake to withhold rotation upon 'cessation of the nut transmission.

'5. n an elevator, a cab, a vertically disposed elevating screw for propelling the cab having its upper end connectedA to the cab at the under side of the platform thereof, a vertically disposed tubular column stationed to have its upper end 'terminating below the lower iloor served by the of the column, a revolvable nut in threaded engagement with said screw and floatingly sustained within said journal, adapting the nut and screw to moveV as a unit by any vibratory motion of the screw.

ALFRED T. BROWN. 

